The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-05-27

Chapter, 10 be called Mt. Lebanon
Chapter and located ut Bradford. The
Grand Chapter in the following june
gave the necessary authority and the
Chapter was organized at once. Au'
rora Mark Lodge was soon merged IN
the Chapter. Bath and the neighbour
ing towns continued to contribute
work for Mt. Lebanon No. Z, until the
organization of Franklin Chapter
The returns published in Whitcomb't
compilation of the early records of the
Grand Chapter of Vermont, are neces'
saryily incSmplete. The officers of the
subordinate Chapters were not held to
such strict accountability, as at present
all their returns have been lost. Still
the work mentioned indicates that all
but two of the founders of Franklin
Chapter received one or more of the
degrees at Bradford. 1t is quite possible
that many of the founders of the Mark
Lodge and the Chapter at Bradford,
had, in turn, received their degrees
from St. Andrews Chapter at Hanover.
Information is not at hand as to the
record of the work of that body previ-
Gus to 1919.
A movement was made in 1922. as
appears by the petition of Jude Kim
ball and others Of April 4th, for the es-
tablishment of Chapter at Danville,
Vt. A charter was granted by the
Grand Chapter in June of the same
year. This organization became Zeru-
babel No. II. Among the petitioners
were DR.. John McNabb, Marmaduke
Walt and Peter E. Miles, who had been
made Royal Arch MasOns in Franklin
Chapter at Bath.
Nathaniel Bishop, who aftcrward be-
came identified with Barns Lodge at
Littleton, was advanced and exalted in
this Chapter Sept. % 1922.
John Holbrook, Brigham Pike and
Daniel Pike of Waterford, are named
in the returns of work at Danville.
The progress Of capitular masonry
in this valley, has thus been briefly out
lined. All of the subordinate bodies
ceased work in the period of the anti
masonic crusade in the decade from
1927 to 1887.
The facts already given have been
gathered mainly from the records of
the Grand Chapters Of New Hampshire
and Vermont. 1t now remains to sum-
Marie the information which may be
derived from the early records Of
Franklin Chapter, as made by its own
recording officers.
Reports of seventy-two meetings are
given, but it is seldom that anything
can be found in them but accounts of
the routine work, the REPETITION Of
which would not be of interest even to
masonic students.
The bylaws contained little, essen
TALLY different from the codes adopted
at the present time. Twenty dollars
was the full fee for degrees, of which
five dollars was the first deposit. This
provision was suspended in favor of
clergymen and worthy but impecuni-
GUS brethren.
The companions were enjoined to adj
just their differences privately in the
first instance. Failing in this they
were to take the matter to the standing
committee. If they were still dissatis.
fed it should be heard in open chapter.
The bylaws bear the original sigma
lures of 46 members under the old
regime.
Upon the reorganization in 1859, sew.
eral of these old companions renewed
their signatures on the same page. DR..
Burns was one of the number.
Of the new members, the first sub
scriber is A. P. Carpenter, under date
of Nav 18th, 1859; next is w. II. Cum
mings, May 18th. Subsequently Hen
ry o. Kent, clerk of the House and
Greenleaf Cummings, clerk of the SEN
ate, signed both under date of Nov. 20.
Sept. 18th, 1921, Thos. S. Bowles,
Timothy Kendrick and Napthali Shaw
were present as G.. H. Priest, G: King
and G. Scribe, respectively and Install
ed the Chapter. Col. Timothy A. Ed
son was Marshal and David G. Church
ill, Deputy Marshal. A procession
was formed which proceeded under a
band of music to the meeting house,
where a discourse was delivered by the
Rev. David Sutherland and the officers
were installed in due form. Return
ing to their Hall they were called from
labor to refreshment.
The customs of the times not only
permitted, but required an element
which is now undergoing considerable
restriction. In this the members OF
the masonic fraternity were very much
in advance of their contemporaries.
Their record of proceedings show the
expulsion of a prominent companion
for excessive indulgence in habits of
intemperance after due admonition.
In their times of festivity and refresh
ments, liquors were provided and their
use was kept, we may presume, as
nearly "within due bounds" as practic-
able in social gatherings. where such
items enter the order Of entertainment.
Some of the bills rendered and paid
are still preserved and are quaint and
interesting "reminiscences of masonic
epoch now historic.
In the summer of 1922 the Chapter
suffered severe affection in the loss
of their High Priest, DR.. Edward
Dean. He was good man and mason
and his untimely death was universally
deplored.
For several years the case Of Andrew
Woods tried the discipline of the Or
ganization. What the alleged offence
was does not appear. Whatever the
merits of the case may have been, its
results were division and agitation,
l IL &C ~